<p>Yes, there were many, many people involved in the "Week's Study on Communism" as well as with the other week-long studies. And Mr. Manoli was always a major inspiration with a great deal of innovative thinking and action at SVC.</p> <ul> <li>But there was no doubt Bill Rosendahl, and his acolyte John Abinader, were at the center of it all, and would not have happened without Bill.</li> <li> </li> <li>On Pete Seeger, I ran into him recently and mentioned to him what a thrill it was to have him at St. Vincent, and that I was particularly thrilled and how I got to see his concert from the very front row. I told him he knocked us all out.</li> </ul> <p>Well, I think ole' Pete must not have thought I was sufficiently revolutionary, being free enough to stand right there on the Hudson River, out in the open and all. Pete looked at me hard and barked back: "SO, WHY AREN'T YOU IN JAIL ? ! "</p> <p> </p>
<p>Thor, do you mean Pat O'Neill... I can't find the reference.</p> <p>Did someone mention that the proposed Seeger concert was picketed by the editor of the Latrobe Bulletin and folks from the town. They suspected that Pete was a fellow-traveler and that the songs he sang (especially Woody"s) were Communist propaganda, e.g. Big Rock Candy Mountain and This Land is Your Land. What is he now, nineties or so, or passed on?</p> <p>Bruce Springsteen was here back then; so was Dionne Warwick (she didn't make much of an impression, as I recall).</p> <p>I recently opened up a Facebook page, and English Department facebook page with Alicia Rae, one of our majors, and a Center for Northern Appalachian Studies. The English Department page and the Center page are open to the public, my personal page requires a sign in... there are many photos there beginning from 19 67 to the present, some that were contributed by a couple posters on the forum here --- Jim Meny at the Priory, Ron Tranquilla, Stubbsie, etc.</p> <p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Latrobe-PA/Saint-Vincent-College-Center-for-Northern-Appalachian-Studies/99902859165?ref=sgm">www.facebook.com/home.php</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/group.php?gid=121994063134">www.facebook.com/home.php</a></p> <p>I was pleasantly surprised at the "re-connections" I made on Facebook - Bob Dekett, Keith Miedel, Rich Lemmer, George Suchan, George Dixon, Salim Merali, Joe James, Dave Bedell, Bill Snyder, Fran Murphy, Joe Narduzzi, the Holland Boys, Ramon Bagatsing, Culleton.... and many others... wonderful to have that happen... lots of memories... lots of quiet laughs alone.</p> <p>All might consider getting a facebook page and re-connect. Just a suggestion.</p> <p>There was a mention early on (a couple posts up) about the St. Patrick's day raid on FR. E's office, and othe shenanigans... the cow in teh refectory, the card games out on the lake on the raft at midnight, the raids on the hill and Grumbling's can of beans, the Great McGeever Collie Puppy Sacrifice in Protest of the Vietnam War ...</p> <p>I know there are stories hidden safely away in your sundry minds... perhaps they should be brought in to the paths of SVC narrative history before they are lost forever.</p> <p>And dont't forget Joe Farrells book... great reading in there about SVC... great insight into all teh lads and the times. </p>
<p> </p> <p>Mr Wissolik: do you mean the EDITOR passed on, or Pete? Yes Pete Seeger is in his '90's, and is alive and more cranky than ever. And my goodness, Pete accurately can be described as AT LEAST a fellow-traveler ! At LEAST he is the definition of what they meant when they said 'fellow traveler!' The issue with Pete is whether or not he was actually 'card-carrying.' The great thing about conspiracy theorists is they believe the world is so structured and efficient, that if the USSR got the Bomb and if we "lost China" then it must have been some folk singer with a banjo, and a couple of Hollywood people, who were the reason why. .</p> <p>I believe I have been told the editor has died. I also was told he took enough interest in those SVC students he thought were left-wingers that he would make calls to local employeers, who then rejected job applications from those students. But, I also was told that in many ways he actually was a good guy, but was going through the confusion of those times, and was worried about the influences his son was "exposed" to at SVC. None of this is first hand, but told to me earnestly, in the way such stories are told. Could all be true I suppose. But these things were happening all over America in the 1960's, a time of conflicting dreams when no one saw their dream come true.</p> <p>And what, Mr. Wissolik, are you saying about Dionne Warwick? At the time, her's was the biggest concert EVER at SVC, with people coming from all over who had never even HEARD of St Vincent before, with higher scale ticket costs than we'd ever seen. The audacity took people's breath away. Bigger even than the tremendous concert by Ray Charles. Charles was not at the height of his fame even though he and his orchestra and Rayettes were peak. But Warwick was at the height of fame. Also at their height were, when they also came to SVC, the Paul Butterfield Blues Band (although lead guitarist Mike Bloomfield had been replaced by back up guitar Elvin Bishop & Butterfield had added horns and a bigger sound, and also an amazing concert by absolutely-at-their-height Sly and the Family Stone. But Warwick packed the place, brought in more money than we had ever seen, and was a personal triumph by John Abinader. He knew he could make things work when no one else had the confidence to think St. Vincent deserved these things. But she was pure pop at the time of transformative Rock, and she gazed at us rubes in slow contempt and actually said she could not BELIEVE she was performing in....where?....'LATROBE??" </p> <p>I think Eldon Kenndy did the Sly and the Butterfield concerts, and neither group cost much. But only Abinader and the huge membership of unbelievably motivated people on his "Assembly Committee" could do Ray Charles AND Dionne Warwick within a few months of each other. Most amazingly, Kennedy and Abinader in their spare time did a radio show together on the campus radio station with some of the very finest jazz, blues and Rock being played anywhere in America. Gives me the chills just to think of those guys and all the people who worked with them every step of the way.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p>
<p>Dionne Warwick? Some of the stalwarts took umbrage at her condescending attitude. That 's what I remember. There was no question concerning her rise to the top and her fame. I must admit, however, when I saw her on that silly psychic thing she was doing on cable later on in her by then diminished career. A triumph at the time for SVC - of course. I'm got some photos of those events floating around somewhere... I'll find them and post...</p> <p>The chills? You got it, Jimmy... they remain. That was some bunch.</p>
Hi All - Kudo to Dick W for keeping this going. I just found this thread a couple of weeks ago and thought I'd add a few things:
Now it can be told - the members of the 1967 IRA band that painted a green stripe down the hallway of Alfred Hall, dressed up the statue at the basilica and perped assorted other pranks were Pete O'Farrell, John Abinader, Tom Meade, Jerry Meade (RIP), and yours truly. I think there were a couple more but I can't recall. Eldon Kennedy may have been involved but I'm not sure. Somehow we got found out and spent the following Saturday morning scraping the paint up (thank God for latex). Every time TCM shows "The Informer" with Victor McLaglen I wonder about this.....
I was on " sabbatical" at Villanova when the Butterfield concert went of but always heard great things about it. I was there for Sly and the Family Stone. Great show, even though Sly burnt or cut his hand before the start causing a long delay. That was a first at SVC - a dance concert with no seating but the bleachers. You could read about it in The Review - the article in my nom de plume, Louie Clemens....
Those study weeks were terrific educational experiences and truly defined for me what a liberal arts education can and should be. It may be just me, but I find the kind of critical thinking those events fostered are sorely lacking in today's educational environment (but maybe that's because I now live in Texas!?!!!). Years later I went on to work at a speaker's bureau, in large part because I believed in the value of having those speakers from such a wide spectrum come to a small campus like St. Vincent.
<p>Hey, Paul, I've been looking for you. Here's a picture you might remember - first Camerata show backstage Kennedy.. There you are, far left, with your guitar. The pix is a little washed out but nonetheless of "great historica value." That was a great time. There are other pictures scattered throughout this thread and in the "Raise My Glass" one. Note Father Earl between you and Sean Wesolowski. In 1972, as Dean of Students, he fell victim to IRA "terrorists" when the windows of his office were painted green inside and out. One stalward rapalled down the side of Alfred Hall to access the office. But that is a story best told by one of the perpetrators, currently working on the campus.</p> <p><img class="" width="400" height="223" alt="" src="/uploads/FIRST SHOW CAMERATA(1).jpg" /></p>
<p>"Rapalled", Dick? Does that mean to rappel with appalling intent? If so, it works!</p> <p>This also of Earl, 1972 (as printed in 1973 yearbook)</p> <p><img alt="" src="file:///C:/Users/Valued%20CCS%20Customer/Documents/SVC%20Stuff/Tower2/11.jpg" /><img class="" width="250" height="317" alt="" src="/uploads/11.jpg" /></p>
<p>Bill, are you accusing me of working a pun?</p> <p>Shortly after the 1972 Saint Patrick's Day raid on Fr. Earl's office, he installed hall security doors. The real route of attack was never discovered.</p> <p>Olga Yencha discovered the identity of one of the "commandos" when he appeared in her office next morning to research for an "after action report." He had neglected to scrup the green paint from under his finger nails. She never said a word to Earl.</p>
I either was sidetracked and did not actually post a comment under the thread about what Bro. Norman will do or was deleted for being off-topic, so I'll be short and sweet here just in case. This is in regard to college08's post in that thread.
"The Gazebo is a great idea... It's a shame the chain broke when my class wanted to drag the thing behind a pickup and put it in Towey's parking spot." What I saw here was the old Bearcat spirit. I would love to have seen a photo of the gazebo sitting in the presidential space. Damn chain! Shades of Joe Nucci coming out of Alfred and seeing his VW Beetle as it sat on the concrete area in front of the east doorway after being lifted up there by some enterprising guys working off their dinner.
<p>Dear pgrazda --</p> <p>Massive thank yous for reminding me of Pete O'Farrell, also alas RIP. What style he had. </p> <p>I think he taught most of us to drink, at least his Manhattans 5-to-1. You are right to remember him as a prankster, but also a wit, brains to spare, and with spare comments as well that either could evicerate or delight. He left early for that MIT engineering program. Last time I saw anything of him, it was on TV as his house in Cambridge MA was getting fixed up on the This Old House program. When they walked him through, to be dazzled at their work, they ended up in this enormous fitness room of glittering chrome. They turned to ol Pete and said 'now look at this! Tell us how much time you will spend in here !' He slowly gazed down at his cigarette then around the room, then back at Bob and said: "well: never. . ."</p> <p> </p> <p> </p>
<p>Here's a young John Jennings (deceased), History major, singer, reader, Camerata pioneer, journalist, minister. We miss you, John.</p> <p>Then Tom Gillooley, 1972.</p> <p>And Pat O'Neill in Alfred Hall with the ever present French Gitane or Gauloise cigarette.</p> <p>Tom sent these along... maybe he can add some comments after he sees these.</p> <p><img class="" width="150" height="190" alt="" src="/uploads/svc - jj.jpg" /><img width="150" height="205" alt="" src="/uploads/svc - me.jpg" /><img class="" width="150" height="200" alt="" src="/uploads/Pat.jpg" /></p>
John Jennings was a great friend. We lost contact for years (decades) and reconnected at Jim Meny's Memorial without missing a beat. I had the great good fortune of having lunch and drinks with John at the Ligonier Inn the weekend before he died. John was always ready for a good, wide ranging conversation and lengthy emails as we continued the discussions at a distance and included others of our group.
As for O'Neill: when he taught Descartes, we believed that Descartes' philosophy was "obviously" correct, then when he moved to Spinoza or Hume we were equally convinced that those guys had the inside track on truth. O'Neill was a great teacher, always in motion and a bit of a rock star given attendance for his Philosophy of Revolution course. No idea of what happened to him but hope he continued to teach - otherwise would have been a great loss. Ryer never taught again after SVC: that was an incalculable loss - he wasn't for everybody but his course(s) was the greatest re-learning that many of us ever encountered.
The big three: Meny, Ryer, O'Neill with the occasional presence of Sebastian who could steal the show.
These pictures came from Donna Doyle, SHC 72 a great friend who died in January 2010 and another philosophy "groupie" like so many others from that era.
Jimmy - Yeah Pete was a classy act. Wry, dry sense of humor tinged with Ancient Age ( "If you can find a better bourbon, buy it"). I also recall he could murder a daily crrossword in minutes flat. I ran into him in Boston in '86 or '87. I was working on a trade show and he just walked into the show office - looked just the same. Sorry to hear he's passed too.
<p> </p> <p> </p> <p>I heard Pete was killed in an accident driving his daughter to Maine to check out prospective colleges. I heard third hand that she is OK. </p> <p>Another recent death from the same Class of '68 is Chas Horan. Sometime last year I think, not long after Pete. </p> <p>After graduation but while still in his twenties, Chas somehow fought off Hodgkin's Disease, was then still capable of getting his MD (Chas was born driven to be a physician like is dad), and managed a successful practice in Florida. Chas and Pete each represented classic Irish personality types, one thing they had in common was brilliance. The other, real love of SVC. What a bunch of smart, charming and dedicated people we were surrounded with! As much as the faculty and the administration, these were the people that made an education at St. Vincent so exciting.</p> <p> # # #</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p>
In a school as small as SVC was in the sixties many of us took more or less the same courses from the same professors, and sophomores anf juniors were doubled up. I recall a Nucci course in which the midterm included a novel due in the second half of the semester. When some fellows complained, he sad indignantly "You're all English Majors. If you haven't learned to bullshit by now you should pick a new major." At a recent event I was discussing how the "Founding Fathers" of the Republic were Eighteeenth Century gentlemen, and how knowledge of the period helps to explain some conundrums. The case in point was "Life, Libertyy and pursuit of happiness." Jefferson's original wording - "pursuit of property--" was of course derived from Aristotle via discussions of the "rights of man." The idea being the right to the means of production needed to support self and family and pass it on to heirs, the yeoman farmer. Just as some of our more unenlightened fellow cits were stunned, so our classmate was jolted when, Aristotle's Ethics unread, he was asked "What is necessary for human happiness?" After a moment he took Nucci's advice and wrote: "A piece of a--, a chicken sandwich, and a bottle of beer." Perhaps not the original, but certainly in the spirit of the teacher of the king of kings.
One of my sons was home from school for a couple weeks, and while it wa great to see him, it was also expensive. Dad, can I have Twenty? Dad, can you fill up the car? Dad, can I use your account to buy Hannah and me a dinner? You fellows from the sixties recall quarter cigarette machines, nickel cohes and fifty cent mixed drinks at the Cove. By favorite was a business venture entered into by those of us who lived off campus (Yes, there were some of us. Many of the theatre gang. Tom encouraged it and rent was really cheap in Latrobe.) Our weekly budget was determined byMonday's Cafe offerings. If they were really nasty, guys became hungry just about the time for Halula"s two for one pizza special. Yeah, for you youngsters, that's two pizzas for a dollar. We got orders and delivred. 100% profit. Better than toxic mortgage income. In many ways life was simple. The objects of everyday life were limited in number and cost. A blazer, a couple button down shirts , a rep tie and some frequently reheeled Bostonians was the dress up uniform. Maybe a trenchcoat in winter. Stereos were rare and T.V. s were limited to lounges. No fridges, microwaves, cell phones and even few electric razors. The cmplexity of typing without the forgiveness of a wordprocessor meant ugly papers, with erasure zits and tailing lines Indexes, bibliographies and concordances were the m.o. of library research. No wonder the English Dept. virtually abandoned the form. Yet out of this chaos came remarkable creativity. Without phones, communication became valuable. We eagerly anticipated mail and looked for interaction with friends. An hour in the shack with a cup. a smoke the P-G and a buddy was important. Rehersing and performing made life richer. Talking about great musical or silly dance performances was a constant part of campus life. And fifty cent pizzas.
<p>Sometime ago, Salim Merali sent along a video taken by Joe Schmitt for George Dixon's (and, I think, McGeever's) Language and Rhetoric class...</p> <p>In 1970-71, Salim ran for SGA president as the Figpucker Party candidate. His platform was to create jobs by deconstructing the Sauerkraut Tower and rebuilding it elsewhere on campus.</p> <p>For those of you in the film and those who might remember, here is the video Salim sent. It moves pretty quickly, but pauses nicely. Recognizing Stubbs and Joe Ryer is no problem. Mike Farley was the campaign manager and Pat Bennett, in the band uniform provided military duty. Looks like Eldon Kennedy as the Secret Service guy with the transister radio. Jim Meny pulls up in his yellow Triumph. A pause here and there will reveal Bill Shields, Tom Molesky, Jerry Oetgen, Chuck McGeever, and a host of other stalwarts from that great bunch of the early seventies...</p> <p>Perhaps others can make some ids..</p> <p>Here's the clip...</p> <p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGNIaxyEYQQ">www.youtube.com/watch</a></p>